Joint structure between underframe and side wall subassemblies of railway cars



Apnl 18, 1950 A, Q DEAN 2,504,656

JOINT STRUCTURE BETWEEN UNDERFRAME AND SIDEWALL SUBASSEMBLIES 0F RAILWAY CARS Original Filed Nov. 4, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 NVENTOR AIber GDecm.

ATTORNEY Aprll 18, 1950 A. G. DEAN 2,504,656

l JOINT STRUCTURE BETWEEN UNDERFRAME AND SIDEWALL SUBASSEMBLIES OF RAILWAY CARS Original Filed Nov. 4, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l INVENTOR A [bel/t CT. Dean.

A TTORNE Y Patented Apr. 18, 1950 JOINT STRUCTURE BETWEEN UNDER- FRAME AND SIDE WALL SUBASSEM- BLIES OF RAILWAY CARS Albert G. Dean, Narberth, Pa., assignor to The l Budd Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Continuation of application Serial No. 508,873,

November 4, 1943. This application September 27, 1945, Serial No. 618,961

The invention relates to vehicle bodies and particularly to such bodies adapted for use in railway cars.

This application is a continuation of appliticular form of the transverse members may be varied from the preferred form shown without departing from the main features of the invention.

cants original application, Serial No. 508,873, According to the invention, the transverse Vehicle body construction, filed November 4, members I2 of the underframe are yintercon- 1943, now abandoned. nected at their opposite ends by longitudinally It is an object of the invention to facilitate extending through-running side sill members I4 the assembly 0f Such bOdeS, and this object is in of generally angular form, including a horizontal large part attained by lrst assembling the uparm i5 overlying the tops of the transverse right or side walls and the underframe as sepmembers l2, I3 and secured thereto, as by spot arate subassemblies, and by providing the-Se Subwelding, and a vertical arm Ils overlapping the assemblies with novel final assembly joint strucend faces of the transverse members and setures which facilitate their joinder together in cured thereto in a manner to be described herenal assembly in such manner as to provide an inafter. unusually strong side sill construction in the re- The horizontal arm I5 is formed with a shalgion of the joinder. low marginal, outwardly presenting channel l'l Other and further objects and advantages and to the top wall of which is secured, as by weldthe manner in which they are attained will being, the margin of the transversely corrugated come apparent from the following detailed defloor sheet I8. The flooring is additionally sescription when read in connection with the cured to the transverse members l2 and is supdrawings illustrating one embodiment of the inported by spaced longitudinally extending vention and forming a part of this specification: stringers I9.

In the drawings, To form a strong final assembly joint struc- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan View of a 25 ture and to give additional column strength to railway car underframe subassembly; the side sill member I4, its vertical arm is Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the formed in its lower margin with a vertically, framework of a side wall subassembly mating preferably upwardly facing shallow channel 2&1. the underframe of Figure 1; All the parts so far described may be sub- Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail vertical 3o assembled into the underframe subassembly, transverse sectional View on a larger scale of the and it may then be turned upside down and the nal assembly joint structure between the unusual accessories assembled therewith without derframe and side Wall subassemblies shown in the inconvenience of assembling such accessories Figures 1 and 2; with the underframe from the bottom. Among Figure 4 is an exploded sectional view, simi- 35 the usual accessories are, as commonly known: lar to Figure 3, showing the subassemblies endraft gear yoke, the coupler, centering device tering into the nal assembly joint structure; for the coupler, the coupler carrier, all major Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view, piping and conduits, battery boxes, tanks and as seen from the inside of the joint structure, casings, electric generating unit and the air conwith the outer paneling left off; and 40 ditoning installation.

Figures 6 and 7 are detail horizontal sectional When the underframe is so inverted, either views taken, respectively, substantially along before or after the application of the accessories, the lines 6--6 of Figure 3 and 1-1 of Figure 4. downwardly extending skirt supports 2l may be In the illustrated embodiment of the invensecured in place. These are usually secured one tion, the underframe comprises, as shown in in the region of each transverse member, as Figure 1, a center sill IIJ with transversely the floor beams I2. widened end extensions II, and suitably longi- The supports 2| may be sheet metal brackets tudinally spaced transverse members, as the wide at the top and tapering to the bottom, spaced floor beams I2 and bolsters I3, connected their top and outer margins being laterally to the center sill and its end extensions. flanged, and the outer margin being curved to A typical floor beam I2 is shown in the detail the contour of the skirt. The top marginal views, Figures 3 to 7, as comprising a generally flange 22 overlaps the end of the adjacent floor Z-section member, having a deep vertical web beam I2 and the bottom of the channel 2l! of portion and having the margins of its arms versill member I4 and is secured thereto in the tically flanged toward the central horizontal overlap, as by spot Welding, see Figure '7.

plane of the web portion. Of course, the par- The support 2l is further stiffened and the end of the floor beam I2 is secured to the vertical arm I6 of the sill member I4 by an angle 23 having one arm overlapping the body or web of support 2l and the web of oor beam I2 and se.- cured thereto in the overlap, and its other arm overlapping the vertical arm I6 of the sill member I4 and likewise secured thereto in the overlap, as by spot welding, see Figures 3 to '7.

With the underframe so subassemblecl,A as'shown in Figure 1 and the exploded view of Figure 4 it is in condition for final assembly with the side wall subassembly.

The side wall subassembly may comprise the separate framing assembly shown in Figure 2 including the spacedY verticalposts 24, the top rail 25, the intermediate rail 26 below the window openings and the novel bottom side sill member 21 forming a principal part of a bottom rail interconnecting the posts 24`some distance above their lower ends. -The posts 24may be termed transverse members interconnecting the longitudinal rails. Diagonals 28 interconnect the rails, and posts through gussets, as 29.

Except for rthe bottom construction adapting the side wall framing subassembly for easy nal assembly with the underframe subassembly and for providing therewith a strong final assembly joint structure, the rest of the side frame may be of any suitable known construction.

VThe side sill member 2l is a through-.running member of somewhat heavier gauge than the other members of the side wall framing and corresponding generally in gauge to that of the side sill member I 4 of the underframe subassembly. It comprises a. vertically deep body portion Si! which may be stiiiened by a rib 3|', this y portion overlapping the inside of the postsl 24, and secured thereto in the overlap as by spot welding,` see Figures 2 to 5. The posts 24 are shown to be of flanged channel section, but may be of other form as desired.

Along the lower margin of body portion 3U, silllnember 2l' is extended .generally horizontally away from the posts by a portion 32 which is formed in its margin with anY outwardly presents ing channel 33, the bottom side wall of' this chan.- nel forming a final assembly joint structure and being provided with a short edge flange 34. for added stiffness.

As will be obvious from the drawings, the side sill member 2'! takes the place of the gussets at the inner sides of the posts and diagonale and may also serve as the outer wall of a heater ductV inthe final assembly. Y

The side wallsubassembly Vso far described land shown in separated relation from the underframe subassembly in Figures 2 and 4, may be brought to the final assembly relation therewith shown in Figures 3 and 5. In this position the bottom side wall of the outwardly facing marginal channel 33 of the side sill member 21. comes into overlapping engagementwith the horizontal arm I of the side sill member Id on the underfrarne subassembly subassemblies.

and can be readily secured thereto by a line of Y spot welds. At the same time, the lower ends of the posts 24 telescope into the shallow upwardly facing channelv 20 and their inner` faces `overlap. the vertical arm I5. of the underframe sill member I4 andare readily secured thereto in the overlap by spot welding, Figures 3- and 6. Thus the lower endsY of the posts are securely anchored against lateral deflection and form with the side sill membersv I4 and 2.1 of the underframe and side frame subassemblies, respectively, aV substantially box-section side -sill having high colvThe through-running longitudinally corrugated skirt sheet 35 may be subassembled into a uni-t, as shown in Figure 4, with a flanged channel 36Y forming arub rail and an angular section bottom raili'l, and this unit may now be brought into the position shown in Figure 3 and welded to the outer faces of the posts 24 and the skirt supports 2 I. This'subassembly, when secured in place, adds further to the strength of the joint between the undrframe and side subassemblies.

The outer sheathing, as 38, is nally applied to the sideA frame in the-regions. above the bottom railj as denedby the outside hanged channel 36.

While the invention has been herein. described in-detailas embodied in a specic construction, it .will be understood that changesand modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing rom'the main features of the invention, and such changes and modifications are intended to be covered' in the appended claims.

What is claimedisz.

Vl. A.- vehicle body construction comprising a side wall subassembly including vertical posts and a through-running side sill memberv interconnecting the posts some distance abovey their lower ends, said side, sill member. having. its lower mare ginal portion spaced from the posts and formed as an outwardly presenting channel, and an un'- derframe subassembly including. transverse oor beams interconnectedfat their ends by a generally downwardly and inwardly facing angular section throughfrunning side sill. member. overlapping through the horizontaland vertical armsv of its angular section the tops and endsof said4 floor beams, respectively,y and secured thereto, the lower margin. of said verticall arm being formed with Van upwardly facing channel, the side wall subassembly, iniinal assembly, .having Vthe bottom side wall of the marginalchannel of. its side sill member overlapping and secured tothe hori- Zontal armof. the underframe sill member andits posts overlapping and secured tothe vertical arm of saidunderframe silll member with their bottom ends telescoped into the upwardly facing marginal channelv thereof.

2'. A joint structureV between vehicle body underframe. and side wall subassemblies comprising a through-running side sill member on said une derframeV subassembly having horizontal and vertical faces, the latter'terminatingj in an up; wardly facing shallow channel, and ,a through#- runningiside sillmemb'er on said sidewall sub-` assemblyv and vertical'posts interconnected by saidY side sill rneinlier.Y in subaSSembIy, said through-running side sill member on the Yside wall subassembly overlapping,and being secured to the horizontal face.ovf"'said"underframeY side sill member and' the posts' telescoping into the upwardly facing channel' andY overlapping and v being `secured .to the Vvertical Vface, of, said under.-

frame side sill member. Y

3. A'. joint'. structure between. vehicle. body underfram'eand side. wall subassemblies, vcomprising a..throug.hrunningfside .sillfmemberfor andfsub assembled with. each-said..A subassemblygthe.fsi-l 1 member.-Y on the underframe.' subassembl-y. interconnecting transverse members of the underframe, the sill member on the side wall subassembly interconnecting side wall posts with their lower ends projecting therebelow, and the sill member and posts of the side subassembly overlapping and forming final assembly joints with parts of the underirame side sill member and being secured thereto in final assembly.

4. A joint structure according to claim 3, in which the underframe side sill member, the side wall side sill member and the posts are so arranged as to form in the final assembly a substantially box-section side sill.

5. A joint structure between vehicle body underframe and side wall subassemblies, each said subassembly comprising longitudinally spaced transverse members and a through-running side sill member interconnecting the transverse mem bers, the side sill members, in final assembly, having overlapping parts accessible for joinder throughout the overlap and secured together in the overlap, the ends of the transverse members of the side wall subassemblies overlapping in iinal assembly another part of said underframe sill member and secured thereto in iinal assembly.

6. A joint structure between vehicle body um derframe and side wall subassemblies, each said subassembly comprising longitudinally spaced transverse members and a through-running longitudinal side sill member of angular crosssection, the side sill member of the side wall subassembly having a marginal ange overlapping a horizontally extending arm of the side sill member of the underframe and the lower ends oi" the transverse members of the side wall subassembly telescoping an upwardly facing marginal portion of the underframe side sill and overlapping a vertical arm thereof, the parts being secured together in the overlaps in final assembly.

7. A joint structure between the underframe and a side wall of a railway car comprising a through-running generally angle-section underframe side sill member connecting transverse members of the underframe, said angle-section sill member having a horizontal portion and a vertical portion, a through-running side sill member connecting in subassembly posts of the side wall with the ends of the posts projecting therebelow, said side sill member on the side wall having an edge flange overlapping the horizontal portion of said underframe side sill member and being secured thereto in the overlap, the ends of the posts projecting below the side wall side sill member, overlapping the vertical portion of the underframe side sill member and being secured thereto in the overlap.

8. An underframe subassembly for vehicle bodies comprising longitudinally spaced transverse members and a through-running side sill member of generally angle-section overlapping the tops and ends of said transverse members and secured thereto in the overlap, at least certain of said transverse members having connected with them and to the respective adjacent portions of the side sill member, a skirt support extending downwardly beyond the side sill member.

9. An underframe subassembly for vehicle bodies comprising longitudinally spaced transverse members and a through-running side sill member of generally angular cross-section having a horizontal arm overlapping the tops of the transverse members and secured thereto in the overlap and having further a vertical arm flanking the ends of the transverse members and secured thereto through angle members each having one arm overlapping and secured to the end of an associated transverse member and another arm overlapping and secured to the vertical arm of said sill member.

10. An underframe subassembly for vehicle bodies comprising longitudinally spaced transverse members, and a through-running side sill member of generally angular cross-section having a horizontal arm overlapping and secured to the tops of said transverse members and a vertical arm flanking the ends of the transverse members and flanged in its lower margin substantially in the plane of the bottoms of said transverse members, and a skirt support associated with at least certain of said transverse members and interconnecting the vertical arm and its lateral flange on the side sill member with the adjacent transverse member.

11. A joint structure between vehicle body underframe and side wall subassemblies comprising through-running side sill members subassembled with each of said subassemblies and skirt supports subassembled with said underframe subassembly, the sill member on the underframe subassembly together with said skirt supports interconnecting transverse members of the underfame, the sill member on the side wall subassembly interconnecting side wall posts with their lower ends projecting therebelow, the sill member and posts of the side subassembly overlapping and forming nal assembly joints with parts of the underframe side sill and being secured thereto in final assembly, and a skirt subassembly, comprising sheathing and top and bottom stiffeners secured to the margins of the sheathing, secured in nal assembly to the lower ends of the posts and to the skirt supports.

12. A joint structure between an underframe subassembly and an upright wall subassembly of a vehicle, comprising a marginal sill on said underiame subassembly overlapping by a generally horizontal arm the top and by a generally vertical arm the ends of adjoining underframe members, a marginal sill on said upright wall subassembly overlapping by an upright arm upright marginal portions of adjoining members of said wall subassembly and having along the lower margin of said upright arm a generally horizontal arm which overlaps and is secured to the horizontal arm of the underframe sill so as to constitute a final assembly joint between the two subassemblies.

13. A joint structure according to claim 12, comprising portions on said upright wall subassembly which extend downwardly beyond said horizontal arms and are overlappingly connected in final assembly with the Vertical arm of the underframe sill.

ALBERT G. DEAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

